A KNOCKOUT PERFORMANCE!

As Katie Taylor prepared for the final fight of her glittering boxing career, the soundtrack to one of the most memorable moments of fight week came courtesy of Carrickmacross sisters Joyce and Ruth O’Leary, performing as internationally acclaimed rock violin duo Sephira.

The Monaghan women rallied the crowd at Trinity College Dublin on Friday for Taylor’s official weigh-in ahead of her successful World Championship bout against France’s Flora Pili at Croke Park on Saturday night.

The performance marked the latest chapter in a long-running collaboration between Sephira and Ireland’s most celebrated boxer, a partnership that began with an unexpected email and has since seen Sephira perform at some of the biggest moments of Taylor’s historic career.

“An e-mail came in from Matchroom Boxing asking would we be available to perform for Katie’s debut weigh-in at Madison Square Garden.”

Since then, Joyce said: “We performed at her weigh-ins in Dublin’s Helix, at the Mansion House and then the other day at Trinity College.”

Their performance at Trinity College featured a medley first devised for that landmark Madison Square Garden event and retained for every Taylor weigh-in since: “We have used the same music every time because they were so happy with it. Matchroom described that weigh-in as ‘the most epic weigh-in of all time’,” Ruth said, thanking the boxing promotors for their confidence.

Crafted to showcase Irish culture, while generating the atmosphere expected at a world-title event, the medley opened with Óró Sé do Bheatha ‘Bhaile, meaning ‘welcome home’. Joyce vividly remembers the impact it had on the New York crowd: “I remember the one in Madison Square Garden, as we played that, Katie came up on stage and the crowd were singing. It was just spine-chilling. We had in-ears in and we could hear it. That’s how loud it was.”

The medley then moved through Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir, traditional favourite Drowsy Maggie and finally Game of Thrones: “We wanted to take people on a rollercoaster of a journey and then bring it back to the Irishness, but still have that warrior vibe,” Joyce described.

The sisters believe their connection with Taylor goes beyond music: “I feel like it’s so aligned, the match, because we’re both extremely spiritual as well,” Ruth said.

Both sisters live with Addison’s disease, which impacts the body by stopping the adrenal glands from making enough cortisol and aldosterone. Extreme tiredness is among the symptoms but the girls try not to let it stop them.

Taylor’s fighting spirit and character have also left a lasting impression: “Katie is such a lovely human being, there’s this calmness about her,” Ruth said. “When we met her after our performance, you wouldn’t think that she was going to fight the next day,” Joyce added.

For Friday’s weigh-in, the duo embraced their Celtic looks, with their red hair and pale skin. Their warrior-inspired look featuring braided hair, dramatic make-up and custom-designed outfits: “We wanted that Xena Warrior Princess look going to battle, but still have that glitzy Sephira look that we are known to have,” Joyce said.

The hairstyle was created by Dani Pattison Hair Artistry, while clothing designer Orla O’Sullivan helped bring the overall look to life: “We did our own make-up. We don’t do fake tan. We wanted our natural pale skin to shine,” Joyce added.

The feedback from Taylor herself remains among the sisters’ proudest memories: “The first time she heard it was in Madison Square Garden, I remember her coming up saying she had goosebumps,” Joyce said.

Ruth added: “It’s literally the best compliment you can get.”

The sisters used to live in New York and returned recently for a visit, when they showed their young children where they used to play concerts.

Joyce admitted the sisters are still processing the experience: “We’re actually still coming down from the high. Katie did Ireland proud.”

Ruth agreed, saying Taylor’s influence extends far beyond the ring: “People have been saying she’s an inspiration to women, but I actually think she’s an inspiration to humans. She can inspire a better world.”

Looking ahead, Sephira are putting the finishing touches to a new album scheduled for release in May 2027.

“The album itself is an actual experience. It is divided into five acts and it takes you on a journey through our music. There are sides to our music that’s quite ethereal and others that are very fiery. We found a way to make it work. It’s magical,” said Ruth.